Morality, unconsciousness, moral requirement, intentionality, Kantian morality, good will, free moral conscience, responsibility, freedom of choice, ethics, philosophy
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Abstract
This philosophical analysis examines whether the concept of unconsciousness contradicts moral requirements, using the example of a character from The Old Oak, a 2023 film by Ken Loach.
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[...] Does the idea of the unconscious contradict moral demand? Introduction In The Old Oak, film by Ken Loach released in 2023, one of the protagonists sabotages the kitchen of a bar owned by a restaurateur, who is also his childhood friend. He continues to frequent the place, without revealing that he is responsible for the sinister act. This action appears morally questionable: the man lies to a long-time friend. Development Morality refers to a set of rules that allow us to define what is good and what is bad. [...]
[...] Conclusion We will first consider that the idea of unconsciousness contradicts the moral requirement, in that it seems to require evaluating the motives of the action. However, this would mean that even good will would not be a sufficient criterion for evaluation, that we could no longer examine interiority to judge an action: it is possible to ignore unconsciousness as a relevant criterion. Finally, we could just as well assert that the moral requirement attaches to acts, not to consciousness, and thus judge only actions from a moral point of view. [...]
[...] This ability to distinguish between good and bad has an immanent origin: moral consciousness, or our subjective appreciation of what should be. This consciousness arises from reflections, choices; the fact that it exists can allow us to judge a moral action in relation to responsibility and the freedom of choice that belongs to acting individuals. For example, because the character of The Old Oak if a person knowingly chose not to reveal that they were the perpetrator of an act of vandalism and we know that this decision came from their free moral conscience, it is possible to judge this person who does not come forward. [...]
